- As 150 Nigerians are killed in three-day communal clash
The Chairman, National Seafarers Welfare Board, Otunba Kunle Folarin has counseled the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to enter into signed agreement with shipping companies if it wants to guarantee sea time training Nigerian cadets.
The Nigerian Maritime industry guru indicated this in Lagos, stressing that such agreements should also be effected either before the cadets are granted admission, or while their courses are in progress; rather than needlessly wait until the completion of the academic years.
NIMASA has currently trained about 2,500 youths at a cost of over N40bn; without any concrete provision for their seatime training. Without seatime, the cadets cannot be properly employed. Presently, many of them are running okada; while most are jobless!
“Shipping companies have their schedule of employment and no one can compel them to engage the cadets on sea time training.
“The management of NIMASA should sign an agreement with the shipping companies before the commencement of the training of the cadets.
“Before the cadets start schooling, NIMASA should sign agreements with a substantial number of ship owners.
“That in one year, NIMASA will send a certain number of cadets to the shipping companies so that they can prepare for training of the cadets”, Folarin stated.
Otunba Folarin, who is also the Chairman, Port Consultative Council (PCC) has subsequently pleaded with the Dakuku Peterside led NIMASA management to urgently open discussions with the shipping companies before more cadets would complete their courses; to save the future of those still in schools.
It is noteworthy that though NIMASA recently announced a proposed partnership with the South Shield Marine School at the South Tyneside College, South Shield, Newcastle, UK, on sea time training; the agreed figure of only 400 was considered a ‘drop of Lipton tea in the lagoon’, and the cost which when converted to Naira, mind boggling.
It is also incisive that without a minimum of at least, one year of practical training on board an ocean going ship, a cadet would not be qualified for the award of a maritime degree, a certificate needed to seek for and secure employment.
In the meantime, one hundred and fifty people have been confirmed dead after a three-day war between two communities in Cross River over land.
The Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), John Inaku, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Tuesday.
“Between June 27 and 29 the people of Wanikade and Wanihem communities both in Yala Local Government Area of the state were involved in a communal war.
“As a result of the bloody war, 14,000 people have been displaced, 1,233 houses were destroyed, while over 150 persons have lost their lives.
“Victims of the affected communities are now internally displaced and camping in over four camps in Benue State.’’
According to him, over 4,000 victims, who fled as a result of the deadly encounter are now taking refuge in Oju Local Government Area of Benue.
He said that the conflict had crippled farming and other socio-economic activities in the area.
Mr. Inaku said, however, that Governor Ben Ayade had provided food and non-food items to the displaced people.
“CR-SEMA in collaboration with the state’s Food Bank Commission has distributed bags of rice, beans, groundnut and palm oil, beverages, cooking utensils, cartons of Indomie, mosquito net, among others to the victims.”
Mr. Inaku thanked the Benue government for its show of love in caring for the people, who fled to Benue for safety.
The director-general appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Refugee Commission to act proactively with a view to providing succour to the displaced people.
Mr. Inaku, who condemned the conflict, appealed to youths in both communities to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
The Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Police Command, Irene Ugbo, also confirmed the development.
She said that additional security operatives had been deployed to the warring communities to restore peace.